Campus News

University of St. Thomas Center for Thomistic Studies has reasons to celebrate this summer – three of them. Faculty members Dr. Steven Jensen, Dr. Thomas Osborne and Dr. John Knasas each wrote books that are being published by the Catholic University of America Press.

While each book focuses on an aspect of Thomistic philosophy, the topics addressed are varied and range from Thomistic ethics and morality to reflections on the problem of evil.

Jensen, associate professor of philosophy, wrote “Living the Good Life: A Beginner’s Thomistic Ethics” which presents a brief introduction to virtue and vice, self-control and weakness, misery and happiness by contrasting the thought of Aquinas with popular views, such as moral relativism, values clarification, utilitarianism, Kantian deontology and situation ethics.

Osborne, associate professor of philosophy wrote “Human Action in Thomas Aquinas, John Duns Scotus, and William of Ockham” which sets out a thematic presentation of human action, especially as it relates to morality in the three most significant figures in Medieval Scholastic thought.

Knasas, professor of philosophy, wrote “Aquinas and the Cry of Rachel: Thomistic Reflections on the Problem of Evil” which explores Aquinas’ philosophical thinking about evil and brings the results into discussion with the contemporary theodicies – philosophies of the problem of evil.

The Center for Thomistic Studies is the only graduate philosophy program uniquely focused on the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas in the United States. CTS was founded on the Church’s insistence of the perennial value of the thought of Aquinas as the new millennium proceeds. For more information, contact 713-525-3591 or thomistic_center@stthom.edu.